98  Chapter 98 Bribery (80 Monthly Tickets Bonus)

Su Jin didn't know how far the border was and didn't care.

In her eyes, of course, the sooner you return to the Capital City, the better.

Xie Jingchen frowned deeply.

Sending grain and grass to the border would take almost a month. Was she planning to turn back to the Capital City right after delivering them to Qingyun Mountain?

Xie Jingchen was worried.

A man on horseback came over, dismounted, and said, "Marquis, it's time to depart. Marquis Jibei has been waiting at the city gate for half a day."

"At his age, still in such a hurry," Marquis Dongxiang said helplessly.

"Alright, don't keep the Old Marquis waiting. You can talk as you go," urged Mrs. Tang.

"...."

Others going to war usually part reluctantly.

But here with Mrs. Tang, she hurried Marquis Dongxiang to leave.

This family always does things differently.

Marquis Dongxiang looked at Su Yang, whose eyes were red, "Father, I can't bear to see you go," Su Yang said.

"That's exactly what I was waiting for, come with me to the border," Marquis Dongxiang laughed.

"...."

"No way, Dad, I'm still young. I can't handle the bumpy ride," Su Yang protested urgently.

"With your thick skin and strong body, even if the carriage is bumpy, you'll be just fine," Marquis Dongxiang patted Su Yang's behind.

"...."

Marquis Dongxiang hoisted Su Yang onto the horseback, kicked his heels, and rode forward.

"Mom! Mom...!"

Su Yang's cries faded into the distance.

Mrs. Tang held her forehead.

"I'm feeling dizzy; I'll go back to take a nap," Mrs. Tang said, rubbing her neck.

"...."

"Go see your father off, stroll around, and come back for lunch. I'll cook your favorite dishes," Mrs. Tang said to Su Jin.

"...."

Su Jin silently got into the carriage, while Xie Jingchen rode his horse, chasing after Marquis Dongxiang toward the city gate.

Marquis Jibei, on horseback, looked displeased at Marquis Dongxiang's tardy arrival.

But seeing him holding a young boy with delicate features and bright eyes, his heart softened, and his anger faded a bit.

"This is my son," Marquis Dongxiang said, holding Su Yang.

Marquis Jibei's gaze lingered on Su Yang, as if unable to look away.

Su Yang pouted, "I'm a tiger! No tiger father has a dog son, I'm not a dog son!"

"What a tiger without a dog son!" Marquis Jibei laughed heartily.

The laughter was loud and strong.

Marquis Dongxiang looked at Xie Jingchen, "Do you have any messages for Duke Zhen?"

"I wrote two letters for my father-in-law in the box," Xie Jingchen said.

Marquis Dongxiang glanced at the large box and said, "The hour is about right. Let's set off."

With that, he threw Su Yang to Xie Jingchen.

Su Yang, "...."

Xie Jingchen, "...."

This is his son, not something you can just casually throw.

Aren't you afraid of breaking him?

Their family's daughters are treasured, but their sons are like cabbage, none are favored.

Xie Jingchen caught Su Yang, and Marquis Dongxiang said, "Take him for a walk around the market, then send him back to Dongxiang Marquis Mansion."

"Dad, aren't you taking me to the border?" Su Yang's eyes sparkled.

"Do you want to go?" Marquis Dongxiang asked.

"No, better not, leaving Mom alone in the Capital City, I'm worried," Su Yang said seriously.

Su Chong walked a few steps forward. Are they really going to ignore him?

Marquis Dongxiang was most worried about Su Jin.

He gave several instructions and, before leaving, gave Xie Jingchen a threatening look.

Xie Jingchen, "...."

The grain and grass were all well-prepared. Marquis Dongxiang spurred his horse and left with Marquis Jibei.

Xie Jingchen felt something was off.

It wasn't until Marquis Dongxiang was far away that Xie Jingchen realized.

Marquis Dongxiang was alone.

He didn't bring any attendants.

Although he's skilled in martial arts, isn't that being overly confident?

Su Yang wanted to climb the city gate, standing high to see far.

Looking out from the city gate, the view was magnificent.

Su Jin stayed for a quarter-hour before Su Yang wanted to explore the market, so Su Jin accompanied him.

As soon as they left, a spectacular scene appeared at the city gate.

Hundreds of soldiers in underwear ran into the city.

They were the soldiers responsible for escorting the grain and grass.

Not long after leaving the city gate, they were ordered to strip off their clothes and return to the Capital City.

The person who did this was Marquis Dongxiang.

The news was swiftly sent to the palace, and the Emperor's brow furrowed tightly.

"Everyone was sent back?" the Emperor asked, suppressing his anger.

"Except for Marquis Jibei, everyone, including Marquis Jibei's personal guards, were dismissed," the guard reported.

"...."

"Why didn't he dismiss Marquis Jibei along too?!" the Emperor exploded with anger.

The Emperor was so furious he felt chest pain.

Eunuch Fu advised the Emperor to calm down. The guard added, "Marquis Dongxiang left a message through the soldiers, saying he wouldn't rob that batch of grain and grass. Not a grain meant for the border would be missing, and if the Emperor was worried, he could send people to surround the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion."

The Emperor felt slightly reassured.

But only for a moment before another message arrived at the palace—

People from Dongxiang Marquis Mansion collected six thousand sets of clothes from the Clothing Workshop.

The Emperor thought he misheard, "How many sets?"

"Six thousand sets."

"Six... six thousand?!"

He wasn't talking about just a few sets?!

Thinking of the plundered Dongzhu—

The Emperor almost lost his breath.

Why did he need so many soldiers' clothes?

Realizing something, the Emperor was uncontainably angry, his face turning purple with rage.

No wonder he agreed so readily!

He didn't plan to rob the grain and grass uphill; he intended to entice those bandits down the mountain to eat the grain and grass and draw salaries!

Seeing the Emperor fuming, Eunuch Fu advised, "Your Majesty, have some tea to calm down. Maybe this isn't a bad thing. Although the people under Marquis Dongxiang have a bad temper, their martial arts are not bad. Sending them to the border, they can fight the enemy."

The Emperor grumbled, "I'm only afraid they won't battle enemies but will destroy my Daqi soldiers first!"

Eunuch Fu, "...."

"Your Majesty, don't get too angry. Sent to the border, at least we know they're from bandit origins. If Marquis Dongxiang lets them split up and enlist in the army, the army won't refuse them due to their physique," Eunuch Fu suggested.

This was true.

But the Emperor was just unhappy.

"Why do I feel like you've been bribed by Marquis Dongxiang?" the Emperor said displeased.

"...."

"Your Majesty, how could Marquis Dongxiang spend money to bribe a servant? It would be a blessing if he didn't rob me," Eunuch Fu laughed bitterly.

"That is indeed the case," the Emperor said.

"...."

Eunuch Fu was aggrieved.

Your Majesty, you don't understand Marquis Dongxiang.

He didn't spend money to bribe a servant.

But he threatened the servant!

Threatened!

Not a single tael of silver spent!

Yet he expected the servant to deceive the Emperor and dared not disobey.

Eunuch Fu wept.

The Emperor wanted to send people to chase Marquis Dongxiang, but Eunuch Fu stopped him, "Sending soldiers now would most likely end up delivering clothes to Marquis Dongxiang. Soldiers can't fight bandits and would lose their clothes; it'd be disgraceful."

Emperor, "...."

"Your Majesty, this matter isn't that serious, in my opinion. Marquis Dongxiang's daughter is the Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen's Mansion. Sending his people to the border, with the Duke there, they wouldn't dare misbehave. Once in the camps, let the Duke use them to charge the enemy and defend the Emperor's land, a good thing indeed," Eunuch Fu advised.

This reminded the Emperor.

The Emperor picked up a pen, dipped it in ink, and personally wrote an imperial decree.

Sending it urgently on horseback to the border.